Te Mori Rose Bowl

NZ Truth, Issue 1030, 22 August 1925, Page 12

Te Mori Rose Bowl

SOUTH MAORIS DEFEAT THE NORTH FAST, CLEVER PLAY

At Athletic Park, Wellington,, on Wednesday, the Southern Maoris defeated the Northern Maoris,, and with the win went the Te Mori Rose Bowl.' ' This was the third contest for the trophy and it was the first occasion on which the South had been successful. ' ' ,;.■. This week's game was easily the best of the three played. It was fast and full of incident right to ' the end. ' The final score- of 14 points to 11 was a fair criterion of the merits of the two. teams — South, just being a little the superior. ' Last year the game was played as one of the trials for the All Black selectors, and it was nothing but.' a scramble from start to finish. In fact, the only outstanding incident was the display of Nepia, who was tried as full-back, and who blossomed out' in subsequent matches to the great player he undoubtedly" is to-day. The game played this week, though it .did not bring to light any player- of the ability of Nepia,. served, to show .that" there are a great number of Maoris capable of playing the game just as well as their white brethren.. The teams were by no means, at full strength b^t, notwithstanding this, one of the best exhibitions of the code seen on the Park this . season, was the result. The forward play perhaps was -not .quite as high as we have seen m some other matches, -but the -back play made up for this a hundred times" over.' The game was always fast, at times spectacular, and there was never a dull moment. ■•■ . - , • Early m the proceedings the South looked a good thing, for they .were" playing against the wind -and were m the lead. However, towards the end 'of- the first spell the North got to work and they broke down that lead till at half-time it was only 8 to 6.* - With the wind m their favor m the second ' session most thought South would romp through the Northern ranks, but they didn't. The North forwards started to play with rare dash and with their backs coming out of their shells, the team was harassing the^ Southerners. ' . . With > two-thirds=- of the second spell gone the score was eleven all. Play was fluctuating from one end of the field to the -other, and attack and counter-attack were -' launched with great rapidity. Each, side m turn looked likely to gain the deciding try, but at the critical moment "something went wrong, or the defence proved too sound. And it was the defence that was the stumbling block on most occasions, especially the defence of the two full-backs. Then just close on time a free, kick to South gave Jacobs his chance and the big fellow landed a magnificent goal.' And thus Mrs. M. A. -Perry's handsome trophy was won for the first time by the Southern Maoris. Taking all. things into/consideration it was a great game. The players had had next to no ' chance of becoming acquainted with one another's methods of play and this was very apparent m the opening stage's of the game. . ' Play at the opening of the match was very disjointed — at times ,it could be called wild — but as the teams found their feet, so to speak, they settled down and gave an exhibition that was well worth while. The South .were the first to bring concerted work into being, and m the first spell they gave some. fine, and spectacular showings of back work. Later m the game their work was not quite so good, but this was brought about by the marked improvement of the North backs, who started off very shakily. On the. day there was very little between the two sets of backs. The forwards did not impress so much as the backs, for though they were willing enough sets they were inclined to trust to luck a whole lot. Especially was this noticeable m loose work,when a nice piece of dribbling would have meant a try. Instead of footwork we were, however, shown bootwork. Too much boot was brought into operation and not enough brains. Another fa\ilt both sets of forwards only too ready to make- was that^

of attempting to pick up the ball m a loose rush instead of leaving it at the feet. The game showed that all the good Maori players are not domiciled m Hawkes Bay. The two best- men on the field were Riki Jury at five-eighths for the North, and King! at half for the South. The former took some time to get going, but m the second spell he played an outstandingly good game. He was the brains of all the attacking movements initiated by his side, and time ,after time he reduced the work of his outside men by chopping out his vis a vis. Jury's exhibition was first grade, and the fact that the Wairarapa player had a Wellington rep. and nn All Black to contend with m the South five-eighths line must not be forgotten. Kingi we have seen before, but never to such advantage. In the first spell he was a veritable will o' the wisp and wherever the ball was you would find Kingi. He was ever opening up. the play with heady movements, while defence found him like a reinforced concrete wall. Perhaps the next best player on the paddock was Sam Gemmell. The North can thank Sam for, the small - ness of the defeat. This man, who was once played as a hooker m a New Zealand team, playing m hjs right place, stood well above the remainder of the forwards engaged. Next to 1 Gemmell m merit m. the forwards was William's, who. played from bell to bell. Jacob was prominent for two-thirds of the game, but he was tired at the finish. Williams, however, kept going all the time. The two full-backs are due for a word of praise, especially the \ South custodian. Mita Johnston, who filled the position for South, gave a finished display. He fielded, kicked and tackled as well as it was possible to. He has not the same sense of anticipation that Nepia possesses, and it is just as well for Nepia he hasn't. Duff, who was full-back for the North, also distinguished himself, though he Avas a little' below Johns.ton. Taking his play right through, Duff is miles ahead of the average full-back of to-day. : There was only one 1924 All Black' m the team, Paewai, and his play was watched with interest. To be quite candid, on this game Paewai was far from impressive. In fact his display was far below that of others he had given prior to his tiip to England. -»We have seen ■ several of the 1924 team m action this year and every one has shown that the trip has been to his benefit. And along came Paewai and spoilt this order of things. Perhaps he had a (jay off — we hope so. Of the wing three-quarters engaged, Falwasser was the best — easily the hest. He had very few chances during the day, for he was having passes thrown at him m any old fashion, but when an opportunity did present itr self he showed a taste of what they claim for him up m Hawkes Bay. He is a very determined runner, and m a good back team would always be a nuisance. Loclnvood was the best of the others. Phillips was a disappointment. With two five-eighths like Love and Paewai together there should have been fireworks, but there wasn't. They played along the most conventional of lines, tactics never being changed one^iota. Had the advantages that presented themselves m the first spell been taken this pair would have, . or could have, run rings rqund the North backs. ■ ' ' As said before the forwards wero not as good a lot as could have been the' case and the outstanding ones are mentioned elsewhere. What "Truth" would like to know, however, is why Bgvan is m the team. We have seen him m Maori teams for years now but to date we have never been able to understand why. Perhaps it is fox r hig hooking, but as far as any othtr department of the game- is concerned, he is — well, let's say not much use. In conclusion mention must be made of the splendid manner m which Referee Bob Paton controlled the game. It was a really good match and Bob m no small degree assisted to make it a©« -■